Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph(1832-1867) was born in Austria.
He was the son of Napoleon Franz, who was the son of Luis Napoleon,
and was born in the castle of Schoenburn. His mother was the Archdutchness
Sophie. He and his family were good friends with Louis Napoleon.
He also was a member of the House of Hapsburg. He married Princess
Carlota, the daughter of King Leopold I, in 1857. He also learned
to speak German, English, Hungarian, Slavic, and Spainish. He
was dreamy and artistic as a child. He was a fairly good horseman.

Maximilian

Maximilian in Mexico

He came
toMexico in 1864 to begin his rule over the
country. Napoleon III sent French
troops to protect Maximilian
from the opposition of the Republicans. Most accounts say that
this gentle man had the best of intentions in coming to Mexico.
He made a
genuine attempt to govern the country and help the Mexican people the best he knew how.
His attempts were in vain, however. He had been deceived in the
first place by Napolean, who simply used him as a puppet to rule
Mexico. Most Mexicans resented the presence of Maximilian.

The United States objected
to France's presence in Mexico because they saw it as a threat
to the Western Hemisphere. The United States, however, was distracted
by its own civil war and did not take action until 1865. The United
States began insisting that Napoleon withdraw his troops. Evantually
he did. Maximilian refused to go. Without the protection of the
French troops, the Republican forces of Benito Juárez were able to regain control of Mexico.

Maximilian
was captured on May 15, 1867 in Queretaro, Mexico. Maximilian
was tried
by court-martial under
the order of Juárez. On June 19, 1867 he was executed by
firing squad. He paid each of the seven gunmen one ounce of gold
not to shoot him in the head, because he wanted his mother to
see him one last time when he was in his coffin. Maximilian was
calm before he was executed. His last words were in Spanish, "I
forgive everybody. I pray that everybody may also forgive me,
and my blood which is about to be shed will bring peace to Mexico.
Long live Mexico! Long live Independence!

Maximilian being killed

After Maximilian died, Carlota returned to
France and figured out that Napoleon didn't care about Maximilian.
When a servant gave Carlota a drink she accused him of poisoning
it. She was a peaceful person before, but after Maximilian's death
she went crazy. She went into great depression, and died several
years later.